Enriched Air Diver Specialty

Looking to extend your bottom time? Using enriched air can extend your no-decompression limits, giving you more time underwater. For example, a 50 foot dive on air is limited to 80 minutes, using EANx36 increases the no decompression limit to a whopping 220 minutes! Plus, you can combine your two open water dives with other specialty training, saving you money and time, while gaining even more dive experience. The PADI Enriched Air Diver program emphasizes the theoretical and operational considerations involved with enriched air diving. Additionally, you'll make to two dives using enriched air and requires Open Water Diver certification and a minimum age of 12.

WHAT IS ENRICHED AIR?

Enriched Air is any combination of nitrogen and oxygen where the percentage of Oxygen exceeds 21%, which is used by most of the diving public. Mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen higher than 21% are called Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx). The commonly used are EAN32 and EAN36., 32% and 36% oxygen respectively.

WHO USED EANx?

EANx was first used in 1912 and has since been used by both commercial and military divers to extend bottom time while working and carrying out tasks. It is used in the medical field as a therapy gas. Advanced level divers have been using it for cave diving, wreck diving, marine harvest and many other diving applications.

ISN’T IT FOR DEEP DIVING?

NO - Many divers mistakenly believe EANx is used only on deep dives. The ideal range for EANx is between 40 & 110 feet, which is well within the recommended range of recreational divers. What it does do is allow longer bottom time at these depths. The lure of exploring sunken vessels, airplanes and automobiles is something most divers can't resist.

Why Become an Enriched Air Diver?

By diving with enriched air rather than standard air you can extend your no decompression limits. This means more time underwater. For example, if you dive to15 metres/50 feet on air, your no decompression limit is 80 minutes. But, diving onEANx36 gets you 220 minutes of no decompression time - an increase of 140 minutes. Plus, the Enriched Air Diver course is the only course that allows students to be enrolled in another course simultaneously. In other words a student enrolled in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course, for example, can also take the PADI Enriched Air Diver Course at the same time.

How long will it take?

1 Knowledge Review session and 2 open water dives.

What do I need to start?

• PADI Open Water diver (or qualifying certification from another organization)
• Minimum age: 15

What will I do?

The PADI Enriched Air Diver Specialty certification emphasizes the theoretical and operational considerations involved with enriched air diving. Learn to test, handle and maintain Enriched Air cylinders. Plan dives using Enriched Air. Calculate your nitrogen and oxygen exposure

Required Materials

PADI Nitrox Crew Pak and Video or DVD. Students will need 2 nitrox cylinders for the open water dives. Arrangements should be made with Bubbles Below to rent cylinders if they don’t already have their own. A Nitrox Air tester is strongly recommended.

Become a Master Scuba Diver?

Show off your training and knowledge by receiving the Master Scuba Diver certification. This is the highest recreational diver level in the PADI system of diver education. It indicates you have received a significant amount of training and experience in a variety of dive environments. Completing this specialty brings you one step closer to achieving this sought after certification.

Our Philosophy

At Bubbles Below we are committed to encouraging the growth of not only divers but local opportunities for the advancement of the sport of SCUBA diving in the greater Northwest.

Everyone who is involved with our dive center is committed to not only a buddy system but that your buddy or student is always first. We know that:

• Nothing in the water is as important as my buddy.
• Keeping myself and my buddy safe means there is always another day to dive.
• Fun and safe diving are the only way to dive.